Furnace Repair is an important part of keeping your home warm in winter. Furnaces have many mechanical parts that can break or become loose. Knowing some troubleshooting tips can help you identify and resolve furnace problems before calling in a professional.
Most homeowners can do some simple repairs on their own to avoid costly Furnace Repair. One of the most common problems is an intermittent ignition or pilot light that won’t stay lit. This can be caused by a simple thing such as the power switch being turned off or it could be something more serious like a cracked heat exchanger, bad motor bearings or an oversized gas valve that needs to be replaced.
If you smell gas, turn off the power to your furnace immediately and call your utility company. A gas leak will affect the efficiency of your furnace and can be a health hazard. A leak may also cause a carbon monoxide alarm to go off in your home. If you can’t get your utility company to respond right away, you should vacate your home until the leak is repaired.
A humming sound may be caused by thermal expansion and contraction of ductwork. It can also be a sign that the blower motor is beginning to wear out or it is leaking. It is important to make sure that your ductwork is properly sealed.
Furnace blows cold air
If your furnace is blowing cold air, you should check the thermostat and ensure that it is set correctly. The blower should only be running when the thermostat indicates that the heating cycle is on. If the thermostat is not set correctly, it could be causing the blower to run all the time and wearing out the motor faster than it should.
You should also check the filter and clean or replace it as needed. If the filter is dirty, it will reduce the flow of air through the ductwork and cause your furnace to work harder than it should. If you’re having a hard time locating your filter, hold it up to the light. If it’s dark, the filter needs to be cleaned or replaced.
Other common furnace issues include an intermittent pilot light or a fan that won’t turn off. If the blower fan keeps running even when the thermostat is set to “off”, there may be a problem with the run capacitor, blower motor or the control board.
If the gas valve has a cracked or broken heat exchanger, it will need to be replaced. A crack or hole in the heat exchanger can lead to dangerous carbon monoxide poisoning. The most common solution for this type of problem is to replace the furnace with a newer, more efficient model. Older coal burners or natural gas models with pilot lights can often be replaced by an electric, high efficiency model. This will improve the efficiency of your home and also save you money on energy bills.